The Capitol Christmas Tree Is Campaigning Harder Than You Are

Like some politicians this fall, one tree is making the most of the road to Washington.

The 88-foot-tall white spruce that will serve as the Capitol's Christmas tree this year will make nearly 30 stops on its 2,000-mile journey from Minnesota to the District. 

The trail begins on Oct. 29 with a two-hour public ceremony in the Chippewa National Forest. Democratic Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Rick Nolan will deliver remarks. The tree will receive a blessing from members of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. And then Jim Scheff, who was named Minnesota's "Logger of the Year" in April, will cut the tree down. 

The journey to Washington is a tradition, according to House Speaker John Boehner's website. The tree, loaded on a 100-foot truck, will stop in seven states along the way. A full list can be found here. It will reach Washington in late November, where members of the Architect of the Capitol, the federal agency that maintains and operates the Capitol building, will coat it in 10,000 ornaments.

The lighting ceremony will be held on the Capitol's west front lawn in early December.

(Image via Orhan Cam/Shutterstock.com)